Her Trail

The wind brushed harshly through my skin. Up above here, with the beautiful lights down there, it was amazing, how lights can become like stars at night. But I am tired… I felt like, this is the best I can do, and maybe, after all these, I can finally… finally, be free. I was named Elora Ember Fleyr, the daughter of a business tycoon, who suddenly appeared out of nowhere. It was winter when my mother went with me to the mansion of my father. My mother claimed that I was his child, and so they ran a DNA test on me, proving my connection to the wealthy man. I was not aware back then, that the wealthy Dallas Caspian Fleyr was a very scary and cold man. He did not even bat an eye on me. He treated me like a passing wind. And his relatives, which is my Aunt, treated me badly, she accused me of stealing her jewelry, she intentionally poured a hot tea on me. It was hell living with her. No one in that mansion cared for me. Having a timid girl like me, I was an easy target. I received hurtful words, they physically hurt me. And my father, my father did not care, he did not even do something to end my suffering. He remained a cold and distant person. He is unreachable, even his own daughter could not get a hold of him. But I don’t know what kept me from enduring. I entered college and I pursue medicine. Finally, I had something I really enjoyed. It was hard but it is better than the hardship in the Fleyr mansion. My pre-med years were enjoyable, I was able to smile and to see the world differently. I was away from the nightmare my family gave me, and at least, for once, there's light in my life. I met a friend in my med proper, she was bubbly, and she taught me a lot of things. “Elora, later 10 pm, I’ll get you!” “Huh? What for?” “Well, I’m planning to introduce you to some of my friends, it will be a night out!” I was naïve, okay, for me it was just a simple invitation from a good and only friend. Amara, my friend, fetched me that night. She’s a daughter of a wealthy person too, but compared to her, I was not as lucky to have expensive clothes and cars. She brought me to a bar. It was like a whole new place for me. I am a library person, addicted to knowing more about medicine so when we entered the place, I was amazed and at the same time scared. “Woohoo! Come on, I’m going to introduce you to them!" She held my arm as we walk in the direction of Amara’s friends. When I stood in front of them, all eyes went to me. The girls were all beautiful, one is black-haired, and the other is blonde. While the boys look like a scion from a wealthy family, they look somehow alike so maybe they are relatives. Amara’s friends are four in total, two girls and two boys. “This is Elora, my friend from our department. I told stories about her a lot.” The blonde girl went to me. She really is gorgeous, while I am so average-looking. “Nice to finally meet you, I heard a lot about you.” And so I met them that night. At first, I was overwhelmed by the feeling of having them as a friend. They are all wild and free, while I am tied with my studies. I wanted to do well so one day, I can stand on my own without the help of Fleyrs. They are a regular in every bar and pub I can name, they are medicine students but they are surprisingly chill. “I forgot about the project, I’m so stressed, Elora. Can you help me? Pretty please?” Amara begged me really hard to help her on the project, it will be passed on the other day and the remaining time is not enough for that project. I even spent my whole week doing hers. In the end, I can’t say no to her. I didn’t sleep for two days just to finish her project. She was so happy when she saw the final output, she even hugs me tightly because of her glee. But what made me uncomfortable is when the same thing happened not just thrice but many more times. She was deprived of sleep because of that. Worse is their other friends started coming to her to let her handle their works. The fool me did not even utter the words my heart wanted to tell. I was so stressed with my works, and theirs were added on my shoulders. Medical school is slowly becoming another hell. All the memories in the Fleyr mansion came back to me. I was like a vessel that is slowly breaking. And later on, it explodes. “I am sorry but I don’t want to do all the things that are supposed to be your responsibility.” “What are you saying? Aren’t we friends?” “But I am human too, Amara. You can’t let me do all the work.” “Are you saying no now? It seems like you wanted to end this friendship.” “W-What? Of course not, what I am saying is, you should take care of your own projects.” Amara did not talk to me after that together with her friends. They ignored me and sometimes they are talking ill about me. “Here she is. Does she think she’s so intelligent? Always carrying books, what a nerd.” “She’s better off alone. She can’t even do a friend a favor.” “She’s even not great, not even beautiful.” “We are the only ones who endure befriending her!” Those words echoed in my mind. What am I? The nanny of the group? Their maid? Thankfully, I graduated with flying colors even after what happened. It was hard but it was worth it to endure. Or so I thought. When I passed the licensure exam, all things were going well, even my residency was in a great and prestigious hospital. I met my very first boyfriend, Donovan Gaige Elias. He is a cold person at first, but as time goes by, the more I know him, the more I see his heart. He became my boyfriend later on. We were so happy… Until I met her again, Amara was in the same hospital as me. I could not believe my eyes! Her eyes immediately scan Donovan. I knew immediately that she liked him. I shrugged it off at first, being the same old fool self again. No wonder, no wonder I was betrayed by the only person I open myself to. One day, he just broke up with me without saying anything. And later on, he and Amara became a thing. And what the f*ck, I have news! I am freaking pregnant. I just knew about it when I had a miscarriage because of stress. I can endure seeing him with another woman, but I can not accept what happened to my poor innocent child. I just can’t. Oh. What a life right? Who would have thought I will end up like this. It was like my whole world crumble. One day I was in love, the next day I’m in an ambulance. I spread both of my arms in the air like a bird really to fly, but unlike them, instead of flying, I will fall really hard. Without any more hesitation, I jump off from the great height. It was… Indeed… Freeing. The last thing I saw was the shines of the light as if stars landed on the ground. Everything went red and finally black. But wait. What is this? I slowly opened my eyes. I even scratch it using the back of my hands. Where I am? I roam my eyes around. Oh my god. I don’t know this place! Where I am? This place is cozy and elegant, like a Victorian interior design. Wait, it is really like Victorian architecture! My gazes went to my side when I felt the movement coming from there. She’s wearing a black print gown and a simple white cap. She is like a maid in the 1800s. When she saw me awake she immediately stands up, holding both of my hands. “My lady! I was so worried! You are finally awake! I need to tell his grace about this!” Huh? HUH? What is the meaning of this? His grace? My lady? What the heck? I swear my expression cannot be explained at this moment. “Wait here my lady, I am going to tell everyone the news!” Is this afterlife? Am I in heaven? Or hell? But I feel really weak and dizzy. What’s this? It’s as if someone’s life is played all over my head. Am I in a coma? Is it a dream? I look closely at both of my hands. Why does it look smaller? I close my eyes and tried to calm myself down. This is really weird. Why does someone’s life keep on appearing in my mind? She is also Elora Ember Fleyr, a daughter of a Duke. She even had the same name as me, but she’s stunning and very beautiful. I have seen a lot of celebrities on TV, but the little girl in my head is unbelievably gorgeous. Her father is distant so is she, they are not really close. This Elora has an older brother named Memphis Kingsley Fleyr. And the Duke… the duke looks like my father! They even have the same name! Duke Dallas Caspian Fleyr. What the heck! What is the meaning of this? Did I die and transfer to this world, in this body? The memories flash in my mind again. I grip the blanket tightly. Why am I seeing this? Elora’s mother, this body’s mother died in the chariot with her. There were bandits, they killed her in front of the poor child. And Elora was stab! No wonder this body felt so weak, but I no longer feel the stab wound. But why are my eyes burning? I touch my cheeks only to find out that I am crying. She must be crying for her mother. Even my heart is aching, and I can’t help but to sob and mewl like a newborn child. Why am I hurting so bad? Do I feel sorry for her? Or this is the last cry of the owner of this body? Elora… May you rest in peace. I am so sorry for taking this body. You’ve done enough, rest now, love. “Duke, young master! She’s… here.” The maid awhile ago entered the room together with the Duke that looks like my father, and a boy who looks so distant just like his father. They stare at me while I can’t stop myself from crying my heart out. My body moves without my consent. I jump from the bed, running towards the Duke. Surprisingly he crouches a bit to get me. He held me in my eyes while I am crying full of sorrow. Maybe Elora wanted to hug his Dad for the last time. That’s why this body moves on its own. “Papa!” I screamed in between the cries. He just carries me and gently patting my back. As if he’s carrying a very precious child. This is the first time, even in Elora’s memory that she was held like this by her Dad. And even me, I’ve never felt this comfortable and secured. Did the Universe grant me this life because it felt sorry for all the things I have gone through? Is this another chance given to me to finally feel the real warmth, or is it the chance to change and to be stronger? I still don’t know what it is, but I will do my best not to regret anything in this new life, in this new world. I am finally deciding for my journey, for my trail.